San Diego

We just got back a few days ago from San Diego, CA. It is only about 4 1/2 hours from Las Vegas. Why have we waited so long to go??? We had a great time. My parents flew into Las Vegas and drove with the kids and I--Ryan flew to San Diego a few days later. Then my sister, Angie, and her family and my brother, Jared, and his family met up with us also. We really missed Ashley and Brittney though :(. Anyway, it was a rockin' good time. The kids had a ball. Too much fun to handle in so short a time. The Lower clan could be beach bums. Garrett and Morgan love, love, love the beach. I have a ton of pictures to post that will give you the run down of our 5 days of heaven.


Wild Animal Park. Garrett and the "older" cousins in a bird nest.


Lego Land. Garrett's favorite ride was the little cars. He got to do it, "all by myself." Morgan's favorite thing at Lego Land was walking around and around and around the light pole--it was pretty funny. Morgan also likes the sand and dug in the dinosaur pit with Grandma, Maddie & Brynnley. Grandma let each kid pick out one thing and she would buy it for them. Garrett pick out the knight costume. He loves it. It comes complete with sword, helmut--the works.



Sea World. The kids had a great time and I wish we could have gone back. Their favorite part was the Sea Star pond. They LOVED picking up the Sea Stars. Garrett and his little buddy (& cousin) Brayden had a great time together. Morgan just loves anything that can get her wet. Ryan really missed out because he hadn't made it to San Diego yet.



Beach day. My favorite day. We actually went to the beach two days, but I'm a retard and left the camera in the hotel room the first day. Garrett had a great time digging in the sand and running right up to the edge of the wave and running away before the water could get him. He is kind of a water wimp. Morgan on the other hand could double for a fish. She loves water. Her favorite part was walking in the water and waiting for a wave to knock her over--of course we didn't let the waves actually knock her down, but she would laugh and giggle. She played in the sand and became a total mess. I hope my kids stay small like this forever. It was a couple of perfect days.

Summer Days

For those few followers that the Lower family does have, we are finally posting again. We have been so busy that the blog has been neglected. May was fun. The Peck family came to visit, Aunt Nicole had her baby, MaddieMorgan had a huge order from Marshall Retail Group, and we went to Utah for a good 10 days. June (so far) Enrico from Germany came to visit, Grandma Dorothy came to visit, Grandma & Grandpa Andersen are coming tomorrow and we are going to San Diego. We can't seem to rest for very long. So, lots of pictures. Small captions. Oh' and a big HAPPY FATHER'S DAY shout out to my dad, Ryan's dad, and of course the love of my life--Ryan. He really is the best dad ever. Garrett & Morgan are so lucky to have him as their father. He is so loving and patient with them. He constantly tells me how cute and adorable they are--like I don't know! Anyway, he is wonderful and we love him.

Isn't Ryan the best?

To get Morgan's hair REALLY curly, I tried the old fashion sponge curlers. Too cute!

Garrett & Morgan having a Tea Party in the pool. This is a memory for the journal.

Morgan is a piglet! She eats her food and then goes for whatever is leftover from the plates of others! That is why her abs look so fabulous--ha!


Is there anything better than getting ice cream all over your face?

Garrett showing off!

So-o-o-o CUTE!!!

Garrett and Morgan looked so flippin' cute at church today that I had to blog it! Ryan thought he and Garrett would play a trick on me before church. I had Garrett all dressed and ready to head out the door except he needed shoes. I tell Ryan to put his church shoes on while I finish Morgan's hair. Garrett comes walking up to me, sticks out feet and tells me he is all ready. Ryan had put Garrett's sandals on with his socks. I know if you are from Utah County that might not sound bizarre, but to everywhere else is the USA--sandals and socks are not okay! Garrett and Ryan bust out laughing and ha-ha joke is over right?? No--we were in such a rush to get out the door that Ryan forgot to change him into his shoes. During sacrament meeting both Ryan and I look down and see Garrett's argyle socks with his brown leather sandals--uggggg! Other than that, Garrett looked adorable in his sweater vest & tie. Now to Morgan--cutest thing to ever have two legs. So many mom's at church asked me how I did her hair--flat iron ladies and yes lots of style freeze hairspray. To get the complete hairdo though you must go www.maddiemorgan.com and get the interchangeable headband and flower--don't forget to email me for a discount first!!!

Easter

Happy Easter! For those of you familiar with the movie "Easter Parade" will get the tone in which I mean to say, "Happy Easter." My one question is, when did Easter become a mini Christmas? Candy, clothes, toys...our family room is now filled with new things. Grandma Dorothy sent an Easter package. Grandma Andersen sent an Easter package. The Easter Bunny came. Easter Egg hunts. It was a big hoopla. It really was fun, but I was left to ponder about the craziness of the holiday. Anyway, just my thoughts. It sounds like I am down on Easter but it really was a fun day. My brother Jared and his family came to visit for the weekend. Garrett and Morgan had a great time with Jacob, Olivia, and Madison. Garrett likes to torment Olivia a little bit and Olivia likes to tattle on Garrett so it is about even. Garrett and Morgan both got new Easter outfits--and yes I mean outfits. They looked adorable at church in their new Easter clothes. Cutest kids in the ward--or so I am told :). They also got new collegiate wear. You know that a holiday isn't complete unless Ohio State gear is included. Garrett got a new Ohio State t-shirt and jersey and Morgan got a new Ohio State cheerleader uniform. They are ready for football season to begin! The biggest hit of the day was the mini piano that the Easter bunny brought. It is too cute. It is a black baby grand piano--the perfect size for both Garrett and Morgan to hone their inner Mozart. We had a real band going this morning with all the instruments that we have. Guitars, piano, trumpet, flute, ukulele. This band is going on tour!

I'm not Perfect

Garrett is always trying to think one step ahead of me. Today during lunch Garrett decided he was done eating and spit out his corn dog onto the floor. Usually he loves anything that he can smother in ketchup. I told him that if he wasn't going to eat his lunch then he couldn't have a snack--I let Garrett have a snack and watch one of his "shows" while Morgan takes her afternoon nap. So, a little while later Morgan goes down for her nap and Garrett asks for a snack or a "nack" as he likes to say. Here is the rest of our conversation:

Garrett: "Mom want a nack please."

Jamie: "No Garrett. You didn't make a good choice. You spit out your lunch."

Garrett: "Please Mom! I not make a bad choice any more. I make a good choice. I promise."

Jamie: "You lie."

Garrett: "Mom, I'm not perfect."

Are you kidding me? Since when did my child learn to out smart his mother??? Someone please help me when he becomes a teenager. I fear this is only the beginning of smart remarks from him. But, how could I respond?

Other events that I am just getting posted:
1--This weekend we went to Zion National Park with our friends the Sechrist's--had a great time. Morgan loved her little hiking backpack.

2--Garrett's first soccer class. Cutest, fastest, most skilled kid in the class.

3--Went to White Sox vs. Cubs baseball game--played in Las Vegas. Ryan took the afternoon off work. A little spendy but, how often do wholesome family activities come to Vegas?

4--Morgan looking adorable in yet another fabulous church dress. Shabbyapple for little girls is the best!

Little Lu-lu

This weekend we celebrated Morgan's birthday. I can't believe that she is one already. This year has flown by. It makes me sad to review pictures from the past year because I know that I will never get that time with her again. She is such a beautiful little girl with a funny little personality to match. Let me tell you just one of her crazy moments this week. Grandma Dorothy and Grandpa Mike gave Morgan a wooden rocking chair for Christmas. Because we flew home for Christmas, we weren't able to bring it back with us. A family friend came to Vegas this week and brought it with her. Now Morgan loves climbing so within minutes of the rocking chair being at our house Morgan had not only figured out how to climb into it, but also how to stand on it, hold on to the back and rock back and forth. I raced over to take her off so she wouldn't fall backward and crack her head open. I placed her safely on the floor and what does she try all over again? That's right. Standing on the chair again! That's my Lu-lu. We had a big birthday hoorah. We went to dad's office and he took Morgan to lunch. Opened presents--which for a one-year-old, she made quite a haul. We did the birthday party with the traditional cake and ice cream--you know the drill. P.S if anyone needs a good caterer in Las Vegas, I know the best. http://www.chocolateaproncatering.com/. My friends own it and they do a fabulous job. Maren (one of the owners) made Morgan's birthday cake--I wanted to take credit, but no one would believe I could pull this cake off. It was beautiful. Almost to pretty to eat. I really did feel bad cutting into it. The best part was, it tasted as good as it looked. Maren also made a little personal cake for Morgan to dive into without all the other guests eating what she had man-handled. The cakes were wonderful and my little princess deserves the best for her first birthday. We love you Morgan!

"That Mom"

I never thought that it would happen, but it has. I am "that mom." You know the mom that allows her children to wear the ugly character clothes like Hannah Montana or Winnie the Pooh. Before I had kids I vowed that my future children would always be clean, have perfect hair, and well dressed. I no longer kid myself about that theory. Well, last week Ryan's mom and grandma came to visit and I had a rare outing with Garrett by myself. No Lu-Lu. For those of you out of the loop, Lu-Lu is Morgan. Garrett nick named her Morgan Lu-Lu and so now she pretty much just goes by Lu-Lu. Anyway, on with the story. Morgan needed a new pair of white shoes and so Garrett thought that he needed a new pair of shoes also. He so-o-o didn't need shoes but oh' well. While I was picking out shoes for Morgan, Garrett went looking for himself. Guess what kind he picked out......the ugly Velcro batman sneakers that flash when he walks. I know what you are thinking, "Don't do it Jamie!" He begged and pleaded like I have never hear before. He got tears in his eyes and everything. Thinking a few moments of excitement would make him forget all about the flashing sneakers, I put them in the cart and finished shopping. While we headed down the rest of the isles, I secretively put the shoes back. We get to check-out and Garrett asked about his new shoes. I contemplated lying to him in hopes that by the time we got home he would forget again but I decided to tell him that I put them back. MISTAKE! The tears came back in full force and he even put his hands together like he was praying to the Saint of all Shoes and said, "Please Mom. I'll be a good boy and never ask for anything ever again." How could I say no? You guessed it. We walked out of the store with those ugly Velcro batman flashing sneakers. So yes. I am "that mom" that allows her child to wear the hideous cartoon character shoes that you promised yourself would never happen. If you see Garrett and the shoes, don't judge me. At least Morgan will let me dress her up and pick out her clothes. I guess it is only a matter of time before she will want to wear the "ugly" clothes too.